Current Projects
CAREER: Reaction mechanisms, performance assessment, and novel mitigation tools for alkali-silica reaction in concrete structures
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Principal Investigator: F. Rajabipour
Students: Asghar Gholizadeh, Tiffany Szeles, Juliana Neves, Stephen Salwocki
Duration: Aug 2013 - Jul 2018
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) continues to be a major durability problem of concrete, resulting in expansion, cracking, and loss of serviceability in bridges, pavements, dams, and other civil infrastructure. This project aims at advancing the state of knowledge on deterioration mechanisms, damage mitigation, and prediction of service-life performance for new and exiting concrete structures susceptible to ASR.
Research Products:
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Principal Investigator: F. Rajabipour
Students: Asghar Gholizadeh, Tiffany Szeles, Juliana Neves, Stephen Salwocki
Duration: Aug 2013 - Jul 2018
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) continues to be a major durability problem of concrete, resulting in expansion, cracking, and loss of serviceability in bridges, pavements, dams, and other civil infrastructure. This project aims at advancing the state of knowledge on deterioration mechanisms, damage mitigation, and prediction of service-life performance for new and exiting concrete structures susceptible to ASR.
Research Products:
- *A. Gholizadeh, F. Rajabipour, ‘The influence of alkali–silica reaction (ASR) gel composition on its hydrophilic properties and free swelling in contact with water vapor,’ Cement and Concrete Research, 94 (2017) 49-58
- *T. Szeles, *J.R. Wright, F. Rajabipour, S.M. Stoffels, (2017) ‘Mitigation of alkali-silica reaction by hydrated alumina’, Transportation Research Record, 2629 (2017) DOI: 10.3141/2629-04.
- Website "Fly ash dosage predictor to mitigate ASR": gholizadeh.weebly.com/fly-ash-dosage-predictor.html
- *A. Gholizadeh, *J.R. Wright, F. Rajabipour, ‘An extended chemical index model to predict the fly ash dosage necessary for mitigating alkali-silica reaction in concrete’, Cement and Concrete Research, 82 (2016) 1-10
- *A. Gholizadeh, F. Rajabipour, J.L. Rosenberger ‘Composition-rheology relationships in alkali-silica reaction gels and the impact on the gel’s deleterious behavior, Cement and Concrete Research, 83 (2016) 45-56
- *H. Maraghechi, F. Rajabipour, C.G. Pantano, W. Burgos, ‘Effect of calcium on dissolution and precipitation reactions of silica glass in alkaline solutions’, Cement and Concrete Research, 87 (2016) 1-13
- *J. Neves, *S. Salwocki, F. Rajabipour, (2016) ‘Is alkali-activated fly ash concrete prone to alkali-silica reaction?’, 15th International Conference on Concrete Alkali Aggregate Reactions (ICAAR), Sao Paolo, Brazil
- *A. Gholizadeh Vayghan, F. Rajabipour, *C. Arndt (2016) ‘The influence of ASR gels composition on their swelling properties’, 15th International Conference on Concrete Alkali Aggregate Reactions (ICAAR), Sao Paolo, Brazil
- *J. Neves, ‘The alkali-silica reaction in alkali-activated fly ash concrete', MS Thesis, Pennsylvania State University, May 2016
- *S. Salwocki, ‘Novel performance tests for evaluation of alkali-silica reaction', MS Thesis, Pennsylvania State University, May 2016
Mechanisms and mitigation of shrinkage and carbonation in alkali-activated concrete
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Principal Investigators: A. Radlinska (PI), F. Rajabipour (co-PI)
Students: Chris Cartwright, Hailong Ye, Maryam Hojati
Duration: Apr 2013 - Mar 2017
Alkali activated concretes (AACs) could play a key role in building sustainable infrastructure. They offer significant energy and CO2 savings as a result of full (100%) replacement of portland cement with industrial byproducts (e.g., fly ash, blast furnace slag), while providing excellent mechanical properties. However, AACs suffer from excessive shrinkage and carbonation, which jeopardize their durability. This project (1) advances the knowledge on the causes and mechanisms of shrinkage and carbonation of AACs at multiple length-scales, and (2) utilizes this knowledge to propose and evaluate effective mitigation strategies to promote production of high performance AAC materials.
Publications to which Dr. Rajabipour contributed:
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Principal Investigators: A. Radlinska (PI), F. Rajabipour (co-PI)
Students: Chris Cartwright, Hailong Ye, Maryam Hojati
Duration: Apr 2013 - Mar 2017
Alkali activated concretes (AACs) could play a key role in building sustainable infrastructure. They offer significant energy and CO2 savings as a result of full (100%) replacement of portland cement with industrial byproducts (e.g., fly ash, blast furnace slag), while providing excellent mechanical properties. However, AACs suffer from excessive shrinkage and carbonation, which jeopardize their durability. This project (1) advances the knowledge on the causes and mechanisms of shrinkage and carbonation of AACs at multiple length-scales, and (2) utilizes this knowledge to propose and evaluate effective mitigation strategies to promote production of high performance AAC materials.
Publications to which Dr. Rajabipour contributed:
- H. Ye, *C. Cartwright, F. Rajabipour, A. Radlinska, ‘Understanding the drying shrinkage performance of alkali-activated slag mortars,’ Cement and Concrete Composites, 76 (2017) 13-24
- *M. Hojati, F. Rajabipour, A. Radlinska, (2016) ‘Drying shrinkage of alkali activated fly ash: Effect of activator composition and ambient relative humidity’, 4th International Conference on Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies (SCMT4), Las Vegas, NV
- H. Ye, *C. Cartwright, F. Rajabipour, A. Radlinska (2014) ‘The effect of drying rate on shrinkage of alkali-activated slag cements’, 4th Int. Conf. on the Durability of Concrete Structures, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- *C. Cartwright, ‘Shrinkage characteristics of alkali-activated slag cements', MS Thesis, Pennsylvania State University, May 2014
- *C. Cartwright, F. Rajabipour, A. Radlinska, ‘Shrinkage characteristics of alkali-activated slag cements’, ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 27(7), (2015)
- C. Cartwright et al. ‘Measuring the chemical shrinkage of alkali-activated slag cements using the buoyancy method’, 9th Int. Conf. Creep, Shrinkage and Durability Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures (CONCREEP-9), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013
- C. Cartwright et al. ‘Shrinkage characteristics of alkali-activated slag cements’, 3rd Int. Conf. Sustainable Const. Mat. Techno., Kyoto, Japan, 2013 (award winner)
Research to promote the management and beneficial use of coal combustion products (CCPs)
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Coal Ash Research Group (PCARG)
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour (PI), B. Scheetz (co-PI)
Student: Mina Mohebbi
Duration: Oct 2012 - Sep 2016
This project investigates the use of CCPs, including pulverized coal fly ash, fluidized bed combustion (FBC) fly ash, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, for mineland reclamation. Specifically, the project (a) investigates methods for better characterization of the material properties of CCPs, (b) studies the mechanical and engineering properties of CCPs compacted beds, and (c) assesses the environmental risks (e.g., ground water contamination) associated with the use of CCPs in mine reclamation.
Publications:
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Coal Ash Research Group (PCARG)
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour (PI), B. Scheetz (co-PI)
Student: Mina Mohebbi
Duration: Oct 2012 - Sep 2016
This project investigates the use of CCPs, including pulverized coal fly ash, fluidized bed combustion (FBC) fly ash, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, for mineland reclamation. Specifically, the project (a) investigates methods for better characterization of the material properties of CCPs, (b) studies the mechanical and engineering properties of CCPs compacted beds, and (c) assesses the environmental risks (e.g., ground water contamination) associated with the use of CCPs in mine reclamation.
Publications:
- *M. Mohebbi, F. Rajabipour, B.E. Scheetz (2015) ‘Reliability of loss on ignition (LOI) test for determining the unburned carbon content in fly ash’, World of Coal Ash Conference (WOCA) Conference, Nashville, TN
Recent Past Projects
Bridge deck cracking: Effects on in-service performance, prevention, and remediation
Sponsor: PennDOT and Mid Atlantic UTC
Principal Investigators: A. Radlinska (PI), G. Warn (co-PI), F. Rajabipour (co-PI), D. Morian (DBE, QES Inc.)
Students: Travis Hopper, Amir Manafpour, Ryan McDonald, Chelci Mannarino
Duration: Aug 2013 - Aug 2015
The goals of this project are: (a) to identify the causes of early-age cracking in concrete bridge decks,
(b) to provide recommendations for effective prevention of early-age cracking, (c) to assess the effect of cracks on the long-term durability and performance of concrete bridge decks, and (d) to identify the best and most cost-effective (on a life-cycle cost basis) remediation practices and optimum time to remediate to extend the service life of bridge decks.
Publications:
Sponsor: PennDOT and Mid Atlantic UTC
Principal Investigators: A. Radlinska (PI), G. Warn (co-PI), F. Rajabipour (co-PI), D. Morian (DBE, QES Inc.)
Students: Travis Hopper, Amir Manafpour, Ryan McDonald, Chelci Mannarino
Duration: Aug 2013 - Aug 2015
The goals of this project are: (a) to identify the causes of early-age cracking in concrete bridge decks,
(b) to provide recommendations for effective prevention of early-age cracking, (c) to assess the effect of cracks on the long-term durability and performance of concrete bridge decks, and (d) to identify the best and most cost-effective (on a life-cycle cost basis) remediation practices and optimum time to remediate to extend the service life of bridge decks.
Publications:
- S. Jahangirnejad, D. Morian, A. Radlinska, F. Rajabipour (2017) ‘Using life-cycle cost analysis for maintaining concrete bridge decks in Pennsylvania,’ Transportation Research Board Annual Conf., Paper# 17-05504, Washington, DC
- A. Manafpour, T. Hopper, F. Rajabipour, A. Radlińska, G. Warn, P. Shokouhi, D. Morian, S. Jahangirnejad (2016) ‘Field investigation of in-service performance of concrete bridge decks in Pennsylvania’, Transportation Research Records, 2577 (2016) 1-7
Engineering and Life Cycle Assessment of Activated Recycled Glass-Based Concretes
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour (PI), Chris Hendrickson (co-PI, Carnegie Mellon University)
Students: Hamed Marachechi, Seyed (Afshin) Shafaatian, Mohan Jiang (@ CMU)
Duration: Aug 2010 - Jul 2014
The goal of this research is to engineer high performance, inexpensive and ecologically positive concrete binders that are made of recycled soda-lime glass powder, in combination with portland cement, hydrated lime, blast furnace slag, or fly ash. The project includes: (1) Multi-scale investigation of the thermodynamics and kinetics of silica dissolution and phase precipitation in alkaline environments containing calcium, (2) Studying the links between pozzolanic and alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), and (3) Conducting a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) model to calculate and compare the cost and eco-impact of glass-based concretes with conventional portland cement concrete.
Publications:
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour (PI), Chris Hendrickson (co-PI, Carnegie Mellon University)
Students: Hamed Marachechi, Seyed (Afshin) Shafaatian, Mohan Jiang (@ CMU)
Duration: Aug 2010 - Jul 2014
The goal of this research is to engineer high performance, inexpensive and ecologically positive concrete binders that are made of recycled soda-lime glass powder, in combination with portland cement, hydrated lime, blast furnace slag, or fly ash. The project includes: (1) Multi-scale investigation of the thermodynamics and kinetics of silica dissolution and phase precipitation in alkaline environments containing calcium, (2) Studying the links between pozzolanic and alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), and (3) Conducting a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) model to calculate and compare the cost and eco-impact of glass-based concretes with conventional portland cement concrete.
Publications:
- *H. Maraghechi, *S. Salwocki, F. Rajabipour, Utilisation of alkali activated glass powder in binary mixtures with portland cement, slag, fly ash and hydrated lime', Materials and Structures, 50(1) (2017) 1-14
- *H. Maraghechi, F. Rajabipour, C.G. Pantano, W. Burgos, ‘Effect of calcium on dissolution and precipitation reactions of silica glass in alkaline solutions’, Cement and Concrete Research, 87 (2016) 1-13
- *A. Kazemian, *A. Gholizadeh, F. Rajabipour, ‘Quantitative assessment of parameters that affect strength development in alkali activated fly ash binders’, Construction and Building Materials, 93 (2015) 869–876
- *H. Maraghechi, et al. ‘Pozzolanic reactivity of recycled glass powder: Reaction stoichiometry, reaction products, and effect of alkali activation’, Cement and Concrete Composites, 53, (2014), 105-114
- *J. Wright, et al. ‘Examining the reliability of the chemical index model in determining fly ash effectiveness against ASR induced by highly reactive recycled glass aggregates’, Construction and Building Materials, 64, (2014), 166-171
- M. Jiang, et al. 'Comparative life cycle assessment of conventional, glass powder, and alkali-activated slag concrete and mortar’, ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 20(4), (2014)
- *H. Maraghechi, et al. ‘Investigation of using alkali activation to enhance the pozzolanic performance of recycled glass powder’, NRMCA Int. Concrete Sustainability Conf., Boston, MA (2014)
- *H. Maraghechi, ' Development and assessment of alkali activated recycled glass-based concretes for civil infrastructure', PhD Dissertation, Pennsylvania State University, Aug. 2014
- *S. Shafaatian, 'Innovative methods to mitigate alkali-silica reaction in concrete materials containing recycled glass aggregates', PhD Dissertation, Pennsylvania State University, Dec. 2012
- F. Rajabipour, et al. ‘ASR and its mitigation in mortars containing recycled soda-lime glass aggregates’, 14th ICAAR, Austin, TX (2012)
- *S. Shafaatian, et al. ‘A preliminary study to understand the beneficial effects of glass powder against alkali silica reaction’, Int. Cong. Durability of Concrete (ICDC2012), Trondheim, Norway (2012)
Assessing the viability of using recycled glass in concrete and quantifying the admixture requirements to mitigate the alkali-silica reaction
Sponsor: Hawaii DOT
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour, G. Fischer (Technical University of Denmark)
Students: Hamed Marachechi, Jared Wright, Seyed (Afshin) Shafaatian
Duration: Nov 2007 - Jul 2013
The main goal of this project was to develop methods to allow production and performance assessment of durable concrete mixtures containing recycled glass aggregates. Specifically, this project (1) assessed the risk of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) associated with the use of recycled glass aggregates, (2) evaluated different methods to safely mitigate ASR in these mixtures, (3) evaluated the effect of using glass aggregates on the workability, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete, and (4) developed draft specifications to allow optimum design and utilization of concrete containing recycled glass aggregates.
Publications:
Sponsor: Hawaii DOT
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour, G. Fischer (Technical University of Denmark)
Students: Hamed Marachechi, Jared Wright, Seyed (Afshin) Shafaatian
Duration: Nov 2007 - Jul 2013
The main goal of this project was to develop methods to allow production and performance assessment of durable concrete mixtures containing recycled glass aggregates. Specifically, this project (1) assessed the risk of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) associated with the use of recycled glass aggregates, (2) evaluated different methods to safely mitigate ASR in these mixtures, (3) evaluated the effect of using glass aggregates on the workability, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete, and (4) developed draft specifications to allow optimum design and utilization of concrete containing recycled glass aggregates.
Publications:
- J. Wright, et al. ‘Fresh and hardened properties of concrete incorporating recycled glass as 100% sand replacement’, ASCE Journal of Materials, 26(10), (2014)
- F. Rajabipour, et al. ‘Assessing the viability of using recycled glass in concrete and quantifying the admixture requirements to mitigate the alkali-silica reaction’, Final Project Report, (2013), 364pp.
- S. Shafaatian, et al. ‘How does fly ash mitigate ASR in accelerated mortar bar test (ASTM C1567)?’ Cement and Concrete Composites, 37, (2013) 143-1531
- H. Maraghechi, et al. ‘The role of residual cracks on alkali silica reactivity of recycled glass aggregates’, Cement and Concrete Composites, 34, (2012) 41-47
- F. Rajabipour, et al. ‘Investigating the alkali silica reaction of recycled glass aggregates in concrete materials’, ASCE Journal of Materials, 22 (2010) 1201-1208
- H. Maraghechi, 'Utilization of recycled glass as sand or cement replacement in concrete materials', MS Thesis, University of Hawaii, Aug 2010
- F. Rajabipour, et al. ‘Recycling and utilizing waste glass as concrete aggregate’, TRB Annual Conference, Paper# 09-2195, Washington, DC (2009)
Longitudinal cracking in concrete at bridge deck dams on structural rehabilitation projects
Sponsor: PennDOT and Mid Atlantic UTC
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour (PI), J. Laman (co-PI), A. Radlinska (co-PI, Villanova University),
D. Morian (DBE, QES Inc.)
Student: Jared Wright
Duration: Jul 2011 - Sep 2012
This study investigated the causes of early-age cracking on concrete repair sections that were placed adjacent to several newly rehabilitated bridge deck expansion dams in Pennsylvania. The work consisted of: (1) a comprehensive literature review of the causes of cracking on bridge decks; (2) a review of previous bridge deck rehabilitation projects that experienced early-age cracking along with construction observations of active deck rehabilitation projects; and (3) an experimental evaluation of the three most commonly used bridge deck concrete mixtures implemented by PennDOT (namely AAA, HPC, and AAAP mixtures).
Publications:
Sponsor: PennDOT and Mid Atlantic UTC
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour (PI), J. Laman (co-PI), A. Radlinska (co-PI, Villanova University),
D. Morian (DBE, QES Inc.)
Student: Jared Wright
Duration: Jul 2011 - Sep 2012
This study investigated the causes of early-age cracking on concrete repair sections that were placed adjacent to several newly rehabilitated bridge deck expansion dams in Pennsylvania. The work consisted of: (1) a comprehensive literature review of the causes of cracking on bridge decks; (2) a review of previous bridge deck rehabilitation projects that experienced early-age cracking along with construction observations of active deck rehabilitation projects; and (3) an experimental evaluation of the three most commonly used bridge deck concrete mixtures implemented by PennDOT (namely AAA, HPC, and AAAP mixtures).
Publications:
- J.R. Wright, et al. ‘Causes of cracking in concrete bridge deck expansion joint repair sections’, Advances in Civil Engineering, Article ID 103421, (2014), 10pg.
- J.R. Wright, et al. ‘Investigation of longitudinal cracking in concrete repair sections adjacent to bridge deck expansion joints’, TRB Annual Conference, Paper# 14-3096,Washington, DC (2014)
- F. Rajabipour, et al. ‘Longitudinal cracking in concrete at bridge deck dams on structural rehabilitation projects’, Final Project Report, (2012), 223pp.
- J.R. Wright, 'Examining concrete properties containing recycled glass cullet as a 100% sand replacement', MS Thesis, Pennsylvania State University, Aug 2012
Characterizing and modeling mass transport in cracked concrete
Sponsor: Penn State
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour
Students: Alireza Akhavan
Duration: Jan 2010 - Aug 2012
The goal of this research was to quantitatively characterize the moisture and ion transport in cracked concrete as a function of crack density, width, depth, tortuosity, and wall surface roughness. The results could be integrated into FEM-based service life prediction models to assess the durability of cracked concrete.
Publications:
Sponsor: Penn State
Principal Investigators: F. Rajabipour
Students: Alireza Akhavan
Duration: Jan 2010 - Aug 2012
The goal of this research was to quantitatively characterize the moisture and ion transport in cracked concrete as a function of crack density, width, depth, tortuosity, and wall surface roughness. The results could be integrated into FEM-based service life prediction models to assess the durability of cracked concrete.
Publications:
- A. Akhavan, F. Rajabipour ‘Evaluating ion diffusivity of cracked cement paste using electrical impedance spectroscopy’, Materials and Structures, 46, (2013) 697-7081
- A. Akhavan, et al. ‘Quantifying the effects of crack width, tortuosity, and roughness on water permeability of cracked mortars’, Cement and Concrete Research, 42, (2012) 313-320
- A. Akhavan, 'Characterizing saturated mass transport in fractured cementitious materials', PhD Dissertation, Pennsylvania State University, Aug. 2012